Tag: discipleship

Luke 10:1-12, 17-20 Jesus sends His disciples out like sheep among wolves. Humanly speaking such a mission is utterly reckless. Supernaturally, however, our victory has been won by Jesus, the “Lamb that that slain.” BRINGING PEACE TO A WORLD THAT LACKS IT 14 Sunday in Ordinary Time [C] Today’s Gospel recounts Our Blessed Lord Jesus...

“Whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me” (Matthew 10:38). Jesus refers to our sufferings as a crossbecause the word “cross” signifies the instrument He used to bring about our salvation. He wants out difficulties to be elevating and sanctifying, not defeating. Think firstof the daily annoyances and...

Matthew 6:39-45 In the Gospel Reading, Jesus offers two maxims for discipleship. First, before a disciple judges anyone else, they must have there own spiritual clarity. Seconda disciple always tests the relationship between their own heart and mouth before undertaking the task of correcting someone else’s problems. Of course, genuine disciples always measure themselves against...

John 9:1-41 The Gospel Reading retells the long and dramatic account of Jesus’ healing of a man born blind. Physical maladies are not the wrath of a scorned God. Because we live in the world of change, bad things sometime happen. Our perspective is very different from God’s. If we dared to spend more time...

John 4:5-42 In the Gospel Reading Jesus requests something to drink from the Samaritan woman. Then, He offers living water, the heavenly gift of eternal life. WE HAVE HEARD FOR OURSELVES The gripping encounter between Jesus and the Samaritan woman and the Samaritan villagers is a marvelous description of the faith journey (John 4:5-42). Initially,...

Like a king making ready for battle or a contractor about to build a tower, our Lord Jesus instructs us with these examples to pursue Him deliberately and thoughtfully (Luke 14:28-33). Genuine discipleship never is haphazard or whimsical. Taking the call of Christ to heart and sincerely seeking to follow Him entails real sacrifice. Jesus must...

Luke 14:25-35 The Gospel Reading lists the requirements for anyone wishing to be Jesus’ disciple. There is no calculating nor is any compromise permitted. Nothing can compete with God and Jesus is the visibility of the Father. Intentional disciples renounce everything for God’s sake.

During the Last Supper, Jesus announces a new commandment. “I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35). According to our Blessed Lord,...

Every day we meet family, friends and colleagues who have lost the sense of what truly is most important. They slink through the day discouraged and confused, struggling to make changes in their lives they might even say they want to happen but do not know how. For them, days are dreary, hope is elusive...

Mature Christian faith – intentional discipleship – is seen to the degree that we acknowledge God before others. It is crucial to remember that such acknowledgement is almost always more powerful in actions than in words. In light of this truth for daily living, kindly permit me to offer some questions for your prayerful consideration as...